Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

M egan woke with a sense of purpose. Today was her day off, a rare break from juggling work and motherhood, and she was determined to make it count—for Ruby.

The little girl had been chattering endlessly about Santa’s Village ever since their arrival on Palmar Island. Every time they passed by, Ruby’s eyes would light up, her tiny finger pointing excitedly at the twinkling lights and festive decorations. Megan had been hesitant to take her. The crowds, the noise, the inevitable stares from well-meaning strangers—it all felt overwhelming. But today, as sunlight streamed through the curtains, Megan decided it was time. Ruby deserved the magic of the season.

By the time Megan entered her daughter’s bedroom, Ruby was already sitting up, Mr. Bear tucked under one arm.

“Guess what, sweetheart?” Megan said, leaning against the dresser with a soft smile.

Ruby looked up, her curls bouncing as she tilted her head. “What, Mommy?”

“We’re going to Santa’s Village today,” Megan announced.

Ruby’s face lit up, and she squealed, dropping Mr. Bear to clap her hands. “Santa! And Cupid?”

“And Cupid,” Megan confirmed, laughing as Ruby leapt out of bed and twirled around the room.

The morning flew by in a blur of preparations. Megan helped Ruby into a deep red velvet dress, tying the matching bow in her hair as Ruby giggled and twirled again. Watching her daughter’s uncontainable excitement lifted Megan’s spirits, and she even applied a bit of mascara and lipstick, feeling more put together than she had in weeks.

Her phone buzzed just as she zipped up Ruby’s coat. It was an unfamiliar number, but something told her to answer.

“Megan Findley,” she said, balancing the phone between her ear and shoulder as she grabbed Ruby’s mittens.

“Megan! It’s Tom Jensen. I hope this isn’t a bad time.”

Megan froze for a moment, her heart skipping at the familiar voice. Tom had been one of Danny’s closest friends back in San Diego.

“No, not at all,” she replied, smoothing Ruby’s hair absently. “How are you?”

“Doing well. Listen, I heard you’ve been out here in Palmar Island for a while now, and I wanted to touch base. We’ve got a position opening up at the firm—consulting, part-time to start. Thought of you right away. It’d be good to have someone we trust in the role.”

Megan’s breath hitched, her mind racing. A job offer. Stability. The kind of opportunity she hadn’t dared to hope for.

“That’s generous of you, Tom. Can I think about it?” she asked, her voice tight.

“Of course,” Tom said, his tone easy. “Take your time. I’ll send over the details, and we can talk whenever you’re ready.”

“Thanks,” Megan murmured, hanging up just as Ruby tugged on her hand.

“Mommy! Santa’s waiting!”

Megan forced a smile, tucking the thoughts of Tom’s offer away for later. “Let’s go see Santa,” she said, taking Ruby’s hand and grabbing her bag.

It didn’t take long to make the now familiar drive. Ruby bounced in her seat the moment the tall Christmas tree came into view.

As usual, the Palmar Island Christmas market was buzzing with holiday cheer. Strings of lights crisscrossed overhead, and cheerful carols played from hidden speakers. Booths selling hot cocoa and handmade ornaments lined the walkways, and children darted from station to station, their laughter ringing through the air.

As they stepped through the gates, Ruby gasped, her small hand tightening in Megan’s. “Mommy! Look!”

Megan followed her daughter’s gaze to Cupid’s pen, where the reindeer stood, flicking his ears and nibbling on a bale of hay. Ruby tugged free of Megan’s grip, running to the fence with wide eyes.

“Hi, Cupid!” she called, her voice high with excitement. “I’m Ruby! Remember?”

Megan approached more slowly, her heart softening as she watched Ruby chatter to the reindeer. Cupid turned his head, his large eyes blinking lazily at the little girl before snorting softly.

“She’s quite the charmer,” a familiar voice said from behind her.

Megan turned to see Scott, fully dressed in his Santa suit, striding toward her with an easy grin.

“Santa!” Ruby squealed, bouncing on her toes.

Scott crouched down to her level, his grin widening. “Ruby, I heard you’ve been very good this year.”

Ruby nodded solemnly, clutching the fence. “I have, Santa. Mr. Bear says so too.”

“Well, if Mr. Bear says so, it must be true,” Scott said with mock seriousness. “And you know what? I think Cupid’s happy to see you.”

Ruby giggled, watching as Scott reached out to gently pat Cupid’s neck.

“Come on, sweetheart,” Megan said softly, gesturing toward the photo station. “It’s time for your picture with Santa.”

Ruby hesitated for a moment before nodding, her excitement bubbling over as she followed Scott to the Santa chair. Megan trailed behind, her heart warming at the way Scott held out a hand to Ruby, guiding her gently.

As they reached the chair, Scott turned to Ruby with a booming “Ho, ho, ho! Have you been practicing your Christmas wish, young lady?”

Ruby nodded, climbing onto his lap shyly. “I want Mr. Bear to have a friend,” she said, her voice small but earnest.

Scott’s eyes twinkled as he leaned in slightly. “A friend for Mr. Bear? That’s a very good wish. What kind of friend do you think he’d like?”

Ruby tilted her head, considering. “Maybe a bunny?”

Scott nodded solemnly. “A bunny sounds like a perfect friend for Mr. Bear. I’ll see what I can do.”

Megan stood off to the side, watching the interaction with a mix of amusement and gratitude. Scott’s kindness wasn’t just an act—he made Ruby feel seen and special in a way Megan hadn’t expected.

“Let’s take a picture to remember this moment,” Scott said, nodding toward the photographer. Ruby beamed as the camera clicked, her small hands clutching the velvet of her dress.

When the photo session ended, Ruby ran back to Megan, clutching the candy cane Scott had given her. “Mommy, Santa says Mr. Bear might get a bunny!”

Megan smiled, brushing a strand of hair from Ruby’s face. “We’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?”

Scott approached them as they prepared to leave, his Santa hat slightly askew but his grin firmly in place. “Thanks for bringing her,” he said, his gaze meeting Megan’s.

“Thanks for making her day,” Megan replied, her voice soft.

Scott shrugged, his smile turning playful. “It’s what Santa does.”

As they walked away, Ruby skipping ahead with her candy cane, Megan found herself glancing back at Scott. He was already turning to greet the next child, his laughter echoing through the Village.

For a brief moment, Megan allowed herself to wonder. Maybe Scott wasn’t just making Ruby’s day. Maybe he was starting to make hers too.

Megan watched as Gertrude walked up the path toward Santa’s Village, her cheerful scarf trailing in the breeze. Ruby spotted her immediately, bouncing on her toes with excitement.

“Miss Gertrude!” Ruby squealed, running toward her with her arms outstretched.

Gertrude bent down with a warm smile, scooping Ruby up into a hug. “Well, there’s my favorite little helper! Did you tell Santa all your Christmas wishes?”

Ruby nodded enthusiastically. “Mr. Bear needs a bunny friend!” she announced, her eyes wide with determination.

Gertrude chuckled, giving Megan a knowing look. “Sounds like a very important request. Santa will have his work cut out for him this year.”

Megan smiled, brushing a stray curl from Ruby’s face. “She’s been talking about that bunny non-stop since this morning.”

“Well, we’ll keep her busy for the afternoon,” Gertrude said, adjusting Ruby on her hip. “I’ve got some cookie dough chilling in the fridge and a new puzzle to try.”

“Thanks again for taking her,” Megan said, her voice tinged with gratitude. “I feel like I’m always asking for favors.”

“Nonsense,” Gertrude replied with a wave of her hand. “You’re working hard, and Ruby’s a joy to have around. Besides, it gives me an excuse to bake.”

Megan knelt to hug Ruby goodbye, smoothing the velvet of her dress. “Be good for Miss Gertrude, okay? I’ll see you tonight.”

“Okay, Mommy!” Ruby said brightly, blowing her a kiss as Gertrude carried her off.

Megan watched them leave, a soft smile lingering on her face. With Ruby in good hands, she turned back toward the bustling Village, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation.

As she tied another ribbon, she noticed Scott step away from the Santa chair and wave her over. She hesitated for a moment before brushing off her hands and walking toward him.

“Hey,” Scott said, his grin as easy as ever. He held something behind his back, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

“What’s that?” Megan asked, tilting her head.

“Just something I thought you’d like,” he said, pulling out a printed photo. It was Ruby’s picture with Santa, the one taken just an hour ago.

Megan’s breath caught as she took the photo from him. Ruby’s face was lit up with pure joy, her small hands clutching her velvet dress as she smiled up at Santa. “You didn’t have to do this,” she said softly, her fingers tracing the edges of the print.

“I wanted to,” Scott replied, his voice gentle. “She’s a special kid. And I figured you’d want to keep this.”

Megan glanced up, her eyes meeting his. “Thank you,” she said sincerely. “This means a lot.”

Scott shrugged, his smile warm. “It’s no big deal. Besides, I don’t get to see that kind of joy every day. She’s got a way of lighting up the room.”

Megan smiled faintly, tucking the photo carefully into her bag. “She’s been looking forward to today for weeks. Every time we passed the Village, it was ‘Santa this’ and ‘Santa that.’” She laughed lightly. “She’ll probably be talking about Cupid for the rest of the year.”

“Cupid’s got quite the fan club,” Scott said, chuckling. “But I think Ruby’s my favorite visitor so far.”

Megan shook her head, brushing glitter off her sleeve. “You’re good with kids, you know. It’s not just the Santa suit.”

Scott leaned against the fence, his expression softening. “Thanks. I guess it comes with the territory. But to be honest...” He hesitated, glancing down at his boots before looking back at her. “Most holidays, it’s just me. No family around, so it’s usually just the reindeer, a couple of old Christmas movies, and whatever I decide to cook.”

Megan felt a pang of sympathy at the quiet admission. She studied his face, the ever-present warmth still there but tinged with something more vulnerable. “That sounds peaceful,” she said, though her voice softened with understanding.

Scott gave a small smile. “It is. But sometimes peaceful can get a little lonely.”

Megan nodded, the truth of his words resonating more than she cared to admit. “I know what you mean,” she said quietly.

For a moment, they stood in silence, the festive hum of the Village around them. Then Scott cleared his throat, his voice slightly more hesitant. “You know, I was thinking. How about dinner on Christmas Eve? Just me, you, and Ruby. Nothing fancy, but it’d be nice to have some company.”

Megan blinked, caught off guard by the invitation. “Dinner?”

Scott nodded, his expression earnest. “Yeah. We’ll keep it simple—something good to eat, maybe a few stories for Ruby. You two deserve a special Christmas.”

Megan hesitated, her heart caught between gratitude and apprehension. The offer felt genuine, but the intimacy of it made her nervous. “I don’t know, Scott.”

Scott smiled gently, as if sensing her hesitation. “No pressure,” he said quickly. “But it’d mean a lot to me. And I think Ruby would have a good time.”

Megan’s lips curved into a small smile despite herself. His sincerity was impossible to ignore, and the thought of giving Ruby a warm Christmas memory tugged at her heart. “Okay,” she said finally, her voice quiet. “We’d love to.”

Scott’s grin returned, lighting up his face. “Great. I’ll make sure it’s a night to remember.”

Before Megan could respond, a small boy ran up to them, his Santa hat askew and a candy cane clutched in his hand. “Santa!” he called, pointing at Scott. “Do you like candy canes too?”

Scott crouched down, his eyes twinkling. “I sure do. But I try not to eat too many—I’ve got to save room for cookies on Christmas Eve!”

The boy giggled, waving his candy cane in the air. “Okay! Don’t forget mine!”

As the boy ran off, Megan let out a soft laugh. “You’ve got quite the fan club yourself.”

“Part of the job,” Scott said, straightening with a playful shrug.

Megan felt a weight lift from her shoulders, the tension between them dissipating in the shared laughter. She glanced at the photo tucked safely in her bag, her thoughts swirling as she turned to head back to her station.

By the time Megan drove home later that evening, the memory of Scott’s invitation lingered in her mind. She pulled the photo of Ruby and Santa from her bag, studying her daughter’s glowing face.

For the first time in years, Megan allowed herself to believe that this Christmas might bring more than just survival. It might bring connection, hope—and maybe even something more.